Getting the Most Out of The Rainbow Fish Book
The Rainbow Fish Book by Marcus Pfister came out in 1992 and became one of those children's books everyone somehow already owns. It's about a fish with beautiful shimmering scales who learns a lesson about sharing. The metallic foil pages are distinctive and easy to spot on any shelf. I'm going to walk through what you need to know before you try to read it with a child, since there are a few things the back cover doesn't tell you. The plot is straightforward. Rainbow Fish has these iridescent scales that every other fish admires. He won't share any of them. The other fish get annoyed and stop talking to him. A small blue fish gives him some advice about why being lonely isn't worth having all the pretty scales. Rainbow Fish eventually gives his scales away and finds friends. That's the whole story. The moral about sharing is pretty direct, which is both the book's strength and its weakness. The board book edition works differently from the hardcover. The board book has thick pages that survive being chewed, hugged, or thrown. The hardcover has the signature foil shimmer, but those pages will warp if a toddler tries to drink water while looking at it. I learned that the hard way with my second child.
Where to Get It and What Edition to Choose
You can find it at most bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and often at library sales for very cheap. The original edition costs around $8 to $12 depending on format. There are newer editions with slightly updated printing, but the story hasn't changed. If you're buying used, check that the foil hasn't flaked off. That happens more often than you'd expect with older copies that have been handled roughly. I'd recommend the board book if the child is under four. The hardcover is better for ages four through seven, when they can actually sit through the full reading without turning pages into airplane wings. There's also a DVD adaptation that some kids prefer, but the book remains the better version because the illustrations are clearer and you control the pace.
Reading It With a Child: What Actually Works
The biggest mistake parents make is reading it straight through without pausing. The book works best when you stop on the pages where Rainbow Fish refuses to give away his scales and ask the child what they think. Don't lead with the moral. Let them sit with the question of why he's being selfish. Most kids under three won't have much to say about it, but starting that conversation early matters more than you'd expect. My actual experience with this book involved a kid who would not let me finish the reading without interrupting every time Rainbow Fish said no to another fish. She kept saying "he should share" at full volume. It was exhausting. What I ended up doing was letting her finish the sentence before I turned the page, which cut the reading time in half and kept her engaged without derailing the whole thing. Works every time now. Another thing nobody mentions: the foil pages catch light differently depending on where you are in the room. Reading it near a window makes the scales look far more impressive than reading it under fluorescent kitchen light. This sounds trivial, but it genuinely affects how captivated a kid gets during the first ten minutes.
Get the Full Details
Common Problems and How to Handle Them
Sometimes kids fixate on the wrong part of the story. I've seen multiple children obsessed with the ocean creatures that surround Rainbow Fish rather than the main character. They'll ask to read just the pages with the other fish. You can work with that. Read those pages enthusiastically even if you're mentally checking out. It keeps them coming back to the book, which is the actual goal. Some kids find Rainbow Fish annoying rather than relatable. That's fair. The character is written as pretty unlikable for the first half, and that's intentional on the author's part. But a sensitive child might identify with how the other fish treat him and get upset. I've had that happen twice. When it does, just acknowledge it briefly and move on. Don't overexplain the moral to a kid who clearly isn't ready for it. The book has been criticized for being too preachy. Some educators argue it pushes conformity over individuality. There's some truth to that. The story essentially tells a child that having things to yourself is wrong and that sharing until you have nothing left is the ideal outcome. It's a valid critique. If that bothers you, you can pivot the conversation afterward by asking what would happen if Rainbow Fish kept just one scale for himself. Most kids find that question more interesting than the original ending.
Alternatives if This Book Doesn't Land
If the child isn't responding to The Rainbow Fish Book, try The Rainbow Fish and the Shining Scales, which is a later companion title that's less heavy-handed. You could also go with Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever for similar themes without the moral lecturing. Or just put it back on the shelf and come back to it in six months. Kids outgrow this kind of story at different ages. The bottom line is that The Rainbow Fish Book is a solid introduction to the concept of sharing for preschoolers, but it's not going to work for every child. The foil pages are nice. The story is simple. Read it a few times, pay attention to what your kid actually latches onto, and adjust from there.
